Riding style difference between MX, SX, and SuMo?

[bad-mofo]

I haven't paid much attention to dirt races until I bought my motard coz SuMo racing is essentially foot-out dirt style. Though after watching the SX event tonight I'm not so sure of the eggagerated foot-out, push-the-bike-underneath-you-while-sitting-upright style I was trying to practice lately and particularly at Grange. Honestly I feel that foot-out style seems ridiculos in some Grange corners. Especially without sliding (backing in) I haven't even tried yet, I mean intentionally, LOL. Maybe I should keep both feet on the pegs and lean with the bike keeping my elbows bent, not straight. I'm still uncomfortable with sitting upright while pushng the bike underneath.

So what's the difference between dirt racing styles and why?

[Marmalade Dad]

The only reasons I know of to put your foot out is to:

1) Keep your weight forward while turning, and
2) Have something to bring back the front wheel if it starts to tuck (akin to your knee on the ground)

[Earl]

It's just all rider preference.

I just finished watching Anaheim 1 on SPEEED, and everyone had different lines, jumping styles, etc....

I prefer to ride my KTM like I ride my dirt bike, and each corner is different. I ride some MX berm style, some flat track style, and some turns with the feet on pegs.

Try all three styles, you'll see that sticking your leg out on tighter turns will work better, feet on pegs usually works much better on fast sweepers.

[bad-mofo]

Alright, I forgot the flat track style. Haven't watched much of it anyway, so can you clarify what it is, Earl? also, what you do with the upper body and the outside leg? I found that pressing against the "tank" helps.

[zman]

weigh the oustside peg
as for riding style i will change it up depending on the corner
I can ride Grange with feet on the pegs and drag thru every corner ha ha

as for what you will like time will tell
its not that you need your foot out its just the way I roll :P



as for Anaheim it was good race
I saw it in person

[Earl]

Alright, I forgot the flat track style. Haven't watched much of it anyway, so can you clarify what it is, Earl? also, what you do with the upper body and the outside leg? I found that pressing against the "tank" helps.

MX berm style is with the leg all the way out and the bike cranked over.

Flat track style is sticking the leg out with a bend at the knee and the foot pointing up.

I usually weigh the outside peg and stab the bar into the turn, I sit kinda crouched over with the elbows bent and sticking out slightly.

I take T1 at SOW full speed in 6th gear with the feet on the pegs, at the last trakc day there (10/27/06), I was dragging my right peg thru that turn, and in T8.

Grange is a VERY short track, so I need to ride it more to figure out the best lines and style. I found some nice YZ250s, so I'll be ready to buy one and do the wheels in late Feb, or early Mar.

[bad-mofo]

I thought if you bend your knee you're flat footing the tarmac, not hitting it with the heel. I try to lift the leg straight. Am I doing it wrong? Also what about repositioning your butt? To the outside edge of the seat that is. I'm all for good workout but sometimes there's no time between corners on a kart track like Grange.

Dang, if any of you experts would come to the PLP tomorrow... Good luck at the race anyway, it's more important. And being a school type of person I'm definitely taking that SuMo school next month.

And lastly, pics (of yourself) to illustrate your point?

[Marmalade Dad]

And lastly, pics (of yourself) to illustrate your point?
Here are some pics of other riders:

http://www.putfile.com/putthisfileaway/images/60890

There are over 300 pictures.

[Earl]

I thought if you bend your knee you're flat footing the tarmac, not hitting it with the heel. I try to lift the leg straight. Am I doing it wrong? Also what about repositioning your butt? To the outside edge of the seat that is. I'm all for good workout but sometimes there's no time between corners on a kart track like Grange.

Dang, if any of you experts would come to the PLP tomorrow... Good luck at the race anyway, it's more important. And being a school type of person I'm definitely taking that SuMo school next month.

And lastly, pics (of yourself) to illustrate your point?

If I do touch the asphalt, I do it with the heel, you don't want your foot catching and twisting your knee up.

It's kinda hard to explain all of this stuff, I'll just have to show you the next time we're at SOW or Pahrump. I'm at Pahrump on 1/21.

One last thought, I shift my weight around by using my legs to lift my butt off the seat, so I do a lot of uphill sprints and squats to keep the legs fit.

How do you post pix here? I'm doing something wrong obviously!:rolleyes

[Marmalade Dad]

How do you post pix here? I'm doing something wrong obviously!:rolleyes
Use {img}{/img} tags around the URL of the image, except use brackets [] instead of the {}.

[Vtec44]

Here are some pics of other riders:

http://www.putfile.com/putthisfileaway/images/60890

There are over 300 pictures.

Which one is you? :dunno

[Marmalade Dad]

Which one is you? :dunno
The ankles are mine. :P

[bad-mofo]

LOL. Half of the pictures, at least the most dramatic ones display the mysterious rider #31 in all his sliding glory. :D Who zat might be?

[Marmalade Dad]

LOL. Half of the pictures, at least the most dramatic ones display the mysterious rider #31 in all his sliding glory. :D Who zat might be?
I'm not quite sure, but I think he may just be a member on this board. :D

[zman]

ha ha you guys are funny

Did i mentiond i had my arse handed to me at Sttars today ??

dude i need more dirt practice

[Marmalade Dad]

ha ha you guys are funny

Did i mentiond i had my arse handed to me at Sttars today ??

dude i need more dirt practice
Must be a big platter to fit all that ass on it! :fawkdance

So how was it?

[Earl]

ha ha you guys are funny

Did i mentiond i had my arse handed to me at Sttars today ??

dude i need more dirt practice

So, what aspect of the dirt section do you need help with Rudy?

Jumps, whoops, berms????? All of the above?

[zman]

So, what aspect of the dirt section do you need help with Rudy?

Jumps, whoops, berms????? All of the above?

Not so much that
it was taking a new line in the dirt i didnt trust yet

and as i was telling John i want to learn that line but in a race
was not the best time

So im planning on taking a excussion to Grange later
and get both lines down

as for how was it
it was fun :D

[Earl]

Not so much that
it was taking a new line in the dirt i didnt trust yet

and as i was telling John i want to learn that line but in a race
was not the best time

So im planning on taking a excussion to Grange later
and get both lines down

as for how was it
it was fun :D

Gotcha.

In the dirt, you can take multiple lines, depending on your position, etc.

Don't get fixated on only two lines, you can cut almost any line you want to, it'll come to you as you get more dirt experience.

Once you learn how to ride at Gorman on the "trails" there, which are more like a half width MX track thru the mtns, your line selection skills get honed big time!

[RC-5Juan]

Gotcha.

In the dirt, you can take multiple lines, depending on your position, etc.

Don't get fixated on only two lines, you can cut almost any line you want to, it'll come to you as you get more dirt experience.

Once you learn how to ride at Gorman on the "trails" there, which are more like a half width MX track thru the mtns, your line selection skills get honed big time!

The line he is talking about is always faster. The only time it wouldnt be is on the first lap when guys are bunched up. It is more technical than the line he was familiar with though, and just felt that a race situation wasnt the time to learn it. Gabe dropped a couple seconds per lap when he started riding it.

[Earl]

The line he is talking about is always faster. The only time it wouldnt be is on the first lap when guys are bunched up. It is more technical than the line he was familiar with though, and just felt that a race situation wasnt the time to learn it. Gabe dropped a couple seconds per lap when he started riding it.

I hear ya, but always keep your options open!

Ryan Villopoto (sp?) made an incredible pass on his teammate this past Sat in Lites Final Race at Anaheim 1, NO ONE was taking that line, but he saw it and made an AWESOME pass!

[zman]

The line he is talking about is always faster. The only time it wouldnt be is on the first lap when guys are bunched up. It is more technical than the line he was familiar with though, and just felt that a race situation wasnt the time to learn it. Gabe dropped a couple seconds per lap when he started riding it.

ill learn that line
just wait ha ha